Rack



July 23, 1940. D; E. YOCHEM RACK Fiied May" :1, less 3 Sheets-Sheet lJana/0 171602011;

23, 1940- D. E. YOCHEM 2 83 5 3 RACK.

Filed May 3l,- 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 swam/kw July 23, 1940..

- D. E. YOCHEM RACK FiledMay 51, 1938 ,3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July23, 1940 UNITED STATES RACK Donald E. Yocliem, Columbus, Ohio, assignorto L. S. -D.'Inc., Dayton, Ohio, a corporation oi Ohio Application May31, 1938, Serial No. 210,937

8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in racks andpertains more particularly to racks of a character adapted to beemployed for supporting all types of dishes, glass- 5 ware, andsilverware in washing machines of the character disclosedand claimed inmy application Serial No. 134,911,.filed April 3, 1937, which has sincematured into Patent No. 2,137,971, of November 22, 1938. 10' The primaryobject of this invention is to provide a rack which is adapted forsupporting dishes, glassware, and silverware in proper relatively spacedrelation and at the most eiiective I angles to permit washing, rinsing,and/or dry- !5 ing of the same by means of suitable fluids projected ata high velocity and in a finely atomized condition from a zone arrangedbeneath the rack. A further important object of the invention is toprovide a rack. of the aforementioned char- 20 acter which is formedentirely of wire strands of proper gauge and with the various strandshaped to produce supporting surfaces for hold flat dishes and bowls onedge and cups and glasses in an inverted andinclined position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack of the abovementioned type which is formed with portions or sections constructed andarranged in a manner to enable them to be emf ployed as supports fordifferent kinds of dishes 30 and glassware;

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description, y

In the accompanying drawings forminga part 85 of this specification andin which like-numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the rack device embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the rack which is taken from theside nearest the observer in Fig. 1,

' Figure 3 is an end elevational view taken at the left-hand end of Fig.1,

Figure 4 is a side elevational view taken at the opposite side to theview shown in Fig. 2, and

Figure 5 is an end elevatlonal view taken at the right-hand end of Fig.1.

The rack embodying this invention is formed so entirely of wire strandsof proper gauge'to provide the desired degree of strength and rigidity.Wherever the various strands are connected or attached to each other,the joints may be soldered, welded, brazed, or attached in any othersuitable 65 manner. In plan view, see- Fig. 1, the rack is of generallyrectangular formation. It is defined with reference to its horizontalmargins by means of a main frame which is designated in its entirety bythe reference character ii. This frame is formed of a single strand ofwire shapedto provide the straight side I, see Fig. 2, the straight end8, see Fig. 3, the side disclosed in Fig. 4 which includes the steppedportions 9 and l 0. andthestraight end ll, see Fig. 5. At each of thefour corners of the rack, the main frame 6 is. sup- 10 ported on legs12, 13, M and 15. The side I is provided with an additional leg l6whilethe portion It of the remaining or opposite side. is provided witha leg ll. These various legs are formed of short lengths of wire whichare bent into substantially V- or U-shape with the extremitiesattached'to the main frame parts and with the bights arranged to engagethe surface on which the rack is supported.

By inspecting Fig. 1, it; will be seen that sub-' 'stantially one-halfof the area covered by the main-frame 8 is taken up with parallelchannels l3,,see also Figs. 2 and. 4, which are intended to receive fiatdishes supported on edge. By flat dishes, I mean dinner dishes, saladdishes,- saucers, and the like. These channels 18 are defined at theirtop by the parallel, spaced strands I9 which are arched to provide thegenerally horizontallyextending top portions 20 and the depending andextremities or legs 2|. By inspecting Figs. 2 and 4, it will be seenthat the end extremities or legs 2| are inclined to the perpendicular sothat they do not occupy the same vertical plane as their respective topportions 20.

By inspecting Figs. 1, 2 and 5, it will be seen that each one of the topportions of the strands I9 is shaped at one side of the frame to providethe perpendicular portion 22 and the inclined portion 23 which connectsthe lower end of .the perpendicular portion 22 to the upper end of the40 adjacent extremity or leg 2 i. The respective perpendicular portions22 of all of the strands l9 and the horizontally inclined portions 23 ofall of said strands are arranged-in the same plane.

The horizontally inclined portions 23 collec- A tively form a shelfwhich will support a bowl, or the like, when the portions of thechannels it occurring between these strands parts 23 are not obstructedor occupied by dishes positioned within the said channels. Due to theinclination 60 of the strand portions 23, a bowl, or the like,

, positioned on its side with its cavity exposed to the center of therack will be inclined or will lean toward the outside.- This positioningof a bowl will permit the interior of the same to be more effectivelytreated by the fluids projected from a zone positioned beneath the rack.

The bottoms of the channels l8 are bridged by means of a plurality oftransversely extending strands 24, see Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5. Thesestrands have their ends 25 bent upwardly for connection at their upperextremities with the outside strands l9. Figs. 1 and 5 also disclose theupstanding end portions 25 of the transverse strands 24 as beingconnected to the end member H of the main frame 6. By inspecting Figs.1, 2 and 4, it will be seen that each one of the transversely extendingstrands 24 has its horizontally extending portion repeatedly, reverselybent to form angles 26. These angles are provided in each transversestrand 24 for each one of the channels I 8. By carefully examining Figs.2 and 4, it will be seen that these angles 26 are slightly laterallyoffset with respect to the central vertical plane of each channel l8.The fiat dishes which are stood upon edge in the channels I 8 have theseedges seated in the angles 26 and due to the offset positioning of theseangles, the dishes will be inclined or will slope laterally inwardly ofthe adjacent end of the rack so that when their concaved sides arepresented toward the center of the rack, these concaved sides orsurfaces will be more effectively exposed to the treatment fluids whichare projected upwardly from a zone located beneath the frame 6 of therack. To properly brace and interconnect the intermediate portions ofall of the strands l9 and 24, perpendicular brace strands 21 areprovided at each point where the strands I9 and 24 intersect each other.These perpendicular bracing strands are disclosed very clearly in Fig.4.

In the right-hand portion of the disclosure of Fig. 3, there is shown awire strand which is designated in its entirety by the referencecharacter 28. This strand includes a perpendicular end portion 29 whichis secured at its extremity to the side 1 of the main frame 6. From theupper end of the portion 29, the wire is bent into an inclined,generally horizontally extending portion 38 which connects with a secondperpendicular portion 3| arranged in parallelism to the portion 29. Fromthe lowerend of the second perpendicular portion 3|, the wire isarranged in a second inclined, generally horizontally extending portion32. The lower end of the portion 32 connects with a generallyperpendicularly extending portion 33 which is considerably longer thaneither of the portions 29 and 3|.

In the lower left-hand portion of the rack disclosed in Fig. 1, thereare shown five of the wires '28. Each one of these wires is shaped inthe manner illustrated in Fig. 3. All of the portions 38 of the variousstrands 28 collectively form an inwardly sloping shelf which isespecially adapted for supporting bowls. The portions 32 of-the severalstrands 28 also collectively function to form a shelf for receivingbowls. These portions 38 and 32 are properly inclined to position bowlsto permit the cavities of the same to be properly treated with fluidsemployed for washing, rinsing and drying the same. It will be noted byinspecting Figs. 1 and 2 that the strand portions 38 are in horizontalalignment with the strand portions 23 of the channel forming wires '9.These strand portions 23 and 30, therefore, .collectively form a singleshelf which extends the full length of the rack frame.

To act as an abutment along the lower edge of the shelf formed by thestrand portions 30, a wire strand 34 is provided and is connectedsupporting desired dishes, or the like.

at the extremity of its outer downwardly bent end to the outside strand28. The remaining end of the strand 34 is connected at 35 to thehorizontal portion 20 of the inside strand l8. To providea proper degreeof rigidity, two perpendicular brace strands 36 extend between thehorizontal portion of the abutment strand 34 and two of the shelfforming strands 28. These bracing strands are disclosed in Figs. 1 and3. A plurality of suitably positioned, horizontally extendingcross'bracing strands 31 are provided for connecting the shelf formingstrands 28, as best illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Connected to the various perpendicular portions 33 of the several shelfforming strands 28 to extend horizontally at a level below the upperextremities of said portions 33 is a strand 38 which is shown best inFigs. 1, 2 and 3. This strand 38 has its inner end portion bentdownwardly to permit it to be connected at 39, see Figs. 1 and 2, to theportion 28 of the adjacent channel forming strand iii. In Figs. 1, 3 and5, there is shown a strand 48 which has its outer end bent downwardly,as at 4|, see Figs. 3 and 5, for connection with the frame end 8. Thehorizontally extendingportion 42 of thisstrand is arranged inparallelism with the aforementioned strand 38, but at a slightly-lowerlevel. Extending between the horizontal portion 42 of the strand 40 andthe opposite portion of the strand 38 are short, shelf forming strands43. Due to the difference in levels between the portions 42 and 38,these shelf forming strands 43 are inclined. This shelf is intendedprimarily for supporting glasses or cups in an inverted, ,inclinedposition.

The various figures also disclose two strands 44 which interconnect thetwo-strand portions 38 and 42 and act as a support for a basket 45 whichis intended to hold silverware standing on end.

which collectively act as an additional shelf for From the upper ends ofthe sloping portions 48, the strands 46 extend upwardly at a sharperangle to form theparts 48' which are joined at 50, see Fig. 1, to thehorizontal portion 42 of the strand 48.

In Fig. 3, there is disclosed a substantially L-shaped strand 5| whichoverlies the inclined shelf formed by the portions 48 of the strands 46.In Fig. 1, two of these L-shaped strands 5| are disclosed. The oppositeends of these strands 5! are connected to the side frame portion 9 andto the horizontal portion 42 of the Wire 40, respectively. 'A hingedshelf 52 is pivotally con nected to the'horizontal portion 42 of thestrand an, as best illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Figs. 1

and 3 clearly illustrate this pivoted shelf 52 in full line position tooverlie the inclined shelf formed by the portion 48 of the strands 46.Fig. 3 discloses the shelf in a dotted line position where it is thrownback to uncover the shelf formed by the strand portions 48. When in itsfull line position, this pivoted shelf 52 will function as a support forglasses or cups. When not needed for these objects, it may be thrownback to make available the inclined shelf which lies therebeneath. It ispossible, also, to position cups and small bowls on the shelf formed bystrand portions 48 and, after closing the shelf departing from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the sub-Joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim;

1'. In a rack of the character described, a main frame having legs forsupporting it in an elevated position, a series of laterally spaced,upwardly arched strands connected at their ends to opposite sides of theframe, the end portions of all of said arched strands extending at anangle to the perpendicular, a plurality of strands extendingtransversely of the series of arched strands with their ends bentupwardly for attachment to the outside ones of said arched strands so asto bridge the spaces between the latter strands at a lower level thanthe tops of the arches, said arched and transverse strands collectivelyforming channels for supporting flat dishes leaning against thearchedstrands with their edges bearing on the transverse strands, and atruly perpendicularly arranged supporting and bracing strand connectingeach transverse strand to each arched strand,

2. In a rack of the character described, a main frame having legs forsupporting it in an elevated position, aseries of laterally spaced,upwardly arched strands connected at'their ends to opposite sides of theframe, a plurality of strands extending transversely of the series ofarched strands with their ends bent upwardly for attachment to theoutside ones of said arched strands so as to bridge the spaces betweenthe latter strands at a lower levelthan the tops of the arches, eachtransverse strand being repeatedly reversely bent toprovide a downwardbend for each space it bridges between the arched strands with each bendforming an angle which is slightly offset laterally with respect to the,transverse center of its particular space, and asupporting and bracingstrand connecting each transverse strand to each arched strand at all ofits high points of said reve-l'se bends.

3. In a rack of the character described, a main frame having legs forsupporting ,it in anelevated position, a series of laterally spaced,upwardly arched strands connected at their ends to opposite sides of theframe, and a plurality of strands extending transversely of the seriesof arched strands with their ends bentupwardly for attachment to theoutside ones of said arched strands so as to bridge the spaces betweenthe latter strands at a lower level than the tops of the arches, .saidarched and transverse strands.

collectively forming channels for, supporting flat dishes leaningagainst the arched strands with-v their edges bearing on the transversestrands, said arched strands each having at one end portion of its top adownwardly bent angle formed to collectively provide a shelf extendingacross said dish channels to act as a support for a bowl strands so asto bridge the spaces between the latter strandsat a lower level than thetops of the arches, said arched and transverse strands collectivelyforming channels for supporting flat dishes stood on edge, said archedstrands each having at one end portion of its top a depression formedtherein so that collectively said depressions form a shelf extendingacrosssaid dish channels to act as a support for a bowl when nottachment to the outside ones of said arched obstructed by dishes insaid. channels, and an vated position, a series of laterally spaced,up-- wardly arched strands connected at their ends to the oppositesidesof the frame and grouped at one end portion of said frame, a pluralityof strands extending transversely of the series of arched strands withtheir ends bent upwardly for attachment to the outside ones of saidlatter strands so as to bridge the spaces between the same at a lowerlevel than the tops of the arches, said arched and transverse strandscollectively forming channels for supporting flat dishes stood on edge,said arched strands each having at one end portion of its top adepression formed therein so that collectively said depressions form ashelf extending across said dish channels to act as a support for a bowlwhen not obstructed by dishes in said channels, an additional series ofspaced strands extending transversely of and occupying a part of theportion of the frame not occupied by the arched strands and arranged inparallelism with said latter strands, said additional series of strandsbeing shaped to form two stepped shelves for supporting bowls with oneof these shelves being positioned to act as an extension for the bowlshelf formed by the arched strands, and the final portion of the framenot occupied by the aforementioned two series of spaced strands havingmounted therein a plurality of strands shaped to form a plurality oflaterally sloping shelves for supporting cups, glasses, or the like, andfor supporting a wire basket shaped to receive silverware.

6. In a rack of the character described, a main frame having legs forsupporting it in an elevated position, a plurality of parallel dishreceiving channels carried by the main frame, the sides of said channelsbeing formed by a series of parallel, inverted, substantially U-shapedstrands attached at their extremities to the main frame, the bottoms ofsaid channels being formed by a series of parallel, substantiallyU-shaped strands arranged at right angles to and underlying the upperportions of the'channel'side forming strands with the extremities oftheir upwardly bent end portions attached to the upper portions of theoutside ones of said channel side forming strands, the strands formingthe sides of the channels each having formed in a portion of its top adownwardly bent angle, said angles co lectively providing a shelfextending at right I angles to said dish channels and acting as asupport for a bowl, or the like, when not obstructed by dishes in saidchannel.

7. In a rack of the character described, a main frame having legs forsupporting it in an elevated position, a plurality of parallel dishreceiving channels carried by the main frame, the sides of said channelsbeing formed by ,a series of parallel; inverted, substantially U-shapedstrands attached at their extremities to the main frame, the bottoms ofsaid channels being formed by a series of parallel, substantiallyU-shaped strands arranged at right angles to and underlying the upperportions of the channel side forming strands with the extremities oftheir upwardly bent end portions attached to the upper portions of theoutside ones of said channel side forming strands, the strands formingthe sides of the channels each having formed in a portion of its top adownwardly bent angle, said angles collectively providing a shelfextending at right angles to said dish'channels and acting as a supportfor a bowl, or the like, when not obstructed by dishes in said channel,and an additional series of spaced parallel strands extending inparallelism with the channel side forming series of strands, saidadditional series of strands shaped to form a shelf which is positionedto act as an extension of the bowl shelf formed by said angles of thechannel side forming strands.

8. In a rack of the character described, a main frame having legs forsupporting it in an elevated position, a plurality of parallel dishreceiving channels carried by and occupying approximately one-half ofthe area of the main frame, the sides of said channels being formed by aseries of parallel, inverted substantially U-shaped strands attached attheir extremities to the main frame, the bottoms of said channels beingformed by a series of parallel, substantially U-shaped strands arrangedat right angles to and underlying the upper portions of the channel sideforming strands with the extremi-' ties of their upwardly bent endportions attached to the upper portions of the outside ones of saidchannel side forming strands, the strands forming the sides of thechannels each having formed in a portion of its top a downwardly bentangle, said angles collectively providing a shelf extending at rightangles to said dish channels and acting as a support for a bowl, or thelike, when not obstructed by dishes in said channels, an additionalseries of spaced parallel strands extending in parallelism with thechannel side forming series of strands and occupying approximatelyone-half 'of the remaining area of the main frame, said additionalseries of strands being shaped to form a shelf which is positionedto-act as an extension of the bowl shelf formed by the said angles ofthe channel side forming strands, and the final portion of the mainframe, notoccupied by the aforesaid series of strands, having mountedtherein .a plurality of strands shaped to form a plurality of laterallysloping shelves for supporting cups, glasses, or the like, and forsupporting a wire basket shaped to. receive silverware.

' DONALD E. YOCHEM.

